destroyer

Pronunciation: /dəˈstɹɔɪ.ɚ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a small fast lightly armored but heavily armed warship
  2. noun a person who destroys or ruins or lays waste to

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English destroyour, destroyere; By surface analysis, destroy + -er. Designating a warship, it is ellipsis of torpedo-boat destroyer, the longer term appearing at the end of the 19th century and the shorter form early in the 20th.

In classic literature

Synonyms

guided missile destroyer

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
warship
Narrower (hyponyms)
tin can, torpedo-boat destroyer

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